Ethernet Info
Many new computers come with an Ethernet port as a standard feature. If you have an older computer, you should be able to add a network card to your workstation.
Follow these steps to see if you have an Ethernet port or need to add one. You can use either of two methods to verify this:
1. Look on your computer to see if you have an Ethernet jack (also known as an RJ 45 jack).
2. Check the hardware profile of your computer.
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Method 1: See if you have an Ethernet port (RJ 45 jack)
Generally, an Ethernet port is found at the back of your computer where all of the other cables plug into your machine. As you can see from the pictures below, an Ethernet port (or RJ 45 jack) is wider than a telephone jack (or RJ 11 jack).
Shown above are (left) an Ethernet jack on the back of a computer (right) an Ethernet jack on a NIC that has not yet been installed in a computer.
If you are still not certain after looking at the jack, try the second method, which is to check the hardware profile of your computer.
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Method 2: Check the hardware profile of your computer
Step 1: Click on the Start button and under Settings select Control Panel.
Step 2: Click on the System icon.
Step 3: Click on the Device Manager tab.
Step 4: Double click on Network Adapters.
Step 5: If you have a line that has the word Ethernet under NetworkAdapters, you have a NIC installed that should have an Ethernet jack.
Step 1: Click on the Start button and under Settings choose Network and Dial Up Connections.
Step 2: Click on Network Identification on the left side of the screen.
Step 3: Click on the Hardware tab.
Step 4: Click on Device Manager.
Step 5: Double click on Network Adapters.
Step 6: If you have a line that has the word Ethernet under NetworkAdapters, you have a NIC installed that should have an Ethernet jack.
Step 1: Click on the Start button and choose My Computer.
Step 2: Click on View System Information.
Step 3: Click on the Hardware tab.
Step 4: Click Device Manager.
Step 5: Double click on Network Adapters.
Step 6: If you have a line that has the word Ethernet under Network Adapters, you have a NIC installed that should have an Ethernet jack.
Step 1: From the Apple Menu Items, access Control Panels.
Step 2: From Control Panels dialog box, access the TCP/IP control panel.
Step 3: In the TCP/IP control panel, under the field Connect Via, select Ethernet from the scroll down menu.
Step 4: With the TCP/IP control panel selected, go to the File menu and select Get Info (Ctrl-I).
Step 5: The Get Info dialog box will list a Hardware Address, which is the MAC address. If a MAC address is listed, you have a NIC installed that should have an Ethernet jack. |
